Lawmakers hit brakes on gas tax suspension

Efforts to suspend the gas tax have stalled in Congress and went nowhere at the state level in Arkansas.

President Trump in May proposed temporarily suspending the tax. Doing so would partially offset gas prices that have risen to $4 per gallon because of the war with Iran. The idea seemed to have a lot of momentum at first, but no more.

Suspending the gas tax would require congressional action, which so far isn’t coming. Sen. Tom Cotton told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that it would not be a “durable solution” and that it would reduce funding for Arkansas highway projects.

Instead, he said the way to reduce oil prices would be to win the war and open the Strait of Hormuz that Iran has partially closed, and through which 20% of the world’s oil supply floats.

Continue reading →

Politicians choosing their voters

Which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives after the November elections? It becomes harder to predict each time a state redraws its congressional district map.

As the year began, the conventional wisdom was that Democrats probably would retake the U.S. House majority because the party that doesn’t control the White House typically does better in the midterm elections. Republicans were favored to maintain control of the Senate.

President Trump’s current low approval ratings, along with $4 gas prices, would seem to further improve the Democrats’ chances. Supposedly, Democrats can even win a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, although I’ll believe it when I see it. 

On the other hand, it’s a long way to November, and things can change. 

Furthermore, the redistricting efforts by both parties, with Republicans appearing to benefit more, have scrambled the picture. Continue reading →

How many ballot measures? Between 3 and 6

vote, Mark Moore, 16-year-olds, Arkansas, primaries, Goodson, photo ID, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, SAVE America ActHow many constitutional amendments will Arkansas voters consider in November? At least three and as many as six, though probably not that many.

The three that definitely will be on the ballot were referred by lawmakers last year. 

One would amend the Arkansas Constitution’s guarantee of the “right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense” by adding the words “lawful hunting and recreational use; and any other lawful purpose.” It also would include as part of that right the possession and use of ammunition and firearm accessories and components.

Another proposal states that only United States citizens can vote in Arkansas, which is already a constitutional requirement. 

The third would allow cities and counties to create economic development districts. For example, a city could create tax incentives to encourage construction in a decayed area.

Meanwhile, three citizen groups seek to qualify amendments for the ballot.  Continue reading →

‘Mama’ from Marianna still touching foster kids’ lives

Her name is Mary Thornton, and she’s from Marianna. For foster kids like Billy Riggs, she’s “Mama.”

Thornton, 67, has been a foster parent for 32 years. She specializes in teenagers, three of whom live with her now, and many of them considered to have challenging behaviors. Her first placement, she said, was “terrible. I almost gave her back.” 

But she has persevered, the result being many lives changed. 

“I had one, she went to the Army,” she said in an interview. “Still in the Army. I have one that was an RN. Some of them do good, and some of them don’t. But basically, I had more to achieve than I had to not achieve.”

Thornton is the Department of Human Services (DHS) Foster Family of the Year. She and nine other families from across the state – two of them single foster mothers like her – were honored May 14 at a Foster Family of the Year Gala at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.  Continue reading →

Libertarian Colt Shelby seeks another win

Colt Shelby

Colt Shelby

Colt Shelby, the Libertarian candidate for governor, won a court victory over Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders last week. Will he get another “win” in November? It depends on how one defines the word.

The victory came in an Arkansas Supreme Court case. Shelby originally had sued Sanders over the length of time she allowed between the death of Sen. Gary Stubblefield and her calling a special election to replace him. She would have delayed the election until after this year’s fiscal session, leaving Senate District 26 unrepresented. 

Shelby sued as a district resident. A court ruled in his favor, and Sanders set an earlier date of March 3 while the state appealed. Because the election had occurred, the Supreme Court May 14 ruled the case was moot, meaning there was no point. 

Shelby and Sanders will meet again in November, but this time the “judges” will be Arkansas voters. Shelby is running as the candidate of the Libertarian Party, which supports small government. State Sen. Fred Love of Little Rock is the Democratic nominee.  Continue reading →